The Spectral Ear
A hearing aid. Perhaps not the most obvious choice for an erotic item. Yet, as Fatoş Üstek finds, deep listening is essential to unlocking the full potential of our carnal selves. After all, the ears are said to be among the most sensitive of the erogenous zones. Turning her high-tech prosthetic off, Fatoş‘ protagonist – our sensual narrator of this auditory realm – discovers she can hear hallucinations: spectral, sonic apparitions emerging from the noiselessness. Immersed in silence, she contemplates neurology and physics – the fact that the universe, like sound waves, is composed entirely of vibrations. Electrified by this cosmic energy, we begin to sense each other differently, newly attentive to the liveliness of connective matter. Many thanks to Wellcome Collection, London, Mark Watts of alanwatts.org for the archival material of the writer and theologian Alan Watts, and Jonie for her autonomous sensory meridian response recording. Editing and sound design by Tobias Withers. Introduction and outro voiced by Johnny Vivash. Artwork by Karel Martens. Produced by the Extra Extra team.
